Charge sizer



Nov. 20, 1934- w. H. scHussLl-:R

CHARGE S I ZER Filed DSO. 14, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l -NN o TToRNEY INVEN wfg N Nk Nov. 20, 1934. w. H. scHussLER 1,981,473

CHARGE SIZER Filed Dec. 14, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2

INVENT @n/,M

Nov. 20, 1934. w. H. scHUssLER CHARGE SI ZER Filed D30. 14, 1932 5 Sheets-Shelf; A

l l l lllln l I I l l I I II .lllllllllllllll llllllllllrl I I l l ll Nov. 20, 1934- v w. H. scHussLER CHARGE lSI ZER FIiled Dec.

14, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 NOV. 20, 1934. w H, SCHUSSLER 1,981,473

CHARGE SIZER Filed Dec. 14, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 2Q, 1934 Niid@ @FESR Application December 14, 1932, Serial No. 647,274

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in scrap bunch cigar machines such as disclosed in my prior Patents Nos. 1,559,009 and 1,521,088, and more particularly to devices for measuring or sizing the quantity of tobacco required for the charges of the individual cigar bunches.

The main object of this invention is to provide means for delivering' and measuring the loose scrap tobacco in such a manner as to produce uniform and spongy bunches of the same density. This object is achieved by delivering the tobacco in loose ccndition directly from` the magazine through a feed chute to the sizing chamber. With this and other objects not specifically mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In measuring devices used heretofore the tobaccc generally is delivered and stacked into a long trough and then by means or" a plunger pressed into a measuring chamber. It has been round that, when a high column of tobacco is pushed through a long trough, the side pressure, created directly under the plunger, will force the tobacco against the side Walls ci said trough and compress the tobacco to such an extent that the latter will form a solid mass of uneven density. Bunches made from charges oi this kind will b hard and undesirable.

In the improved charge sizer the tobacco, at each interval, is delivered by interchangeable magazine buckets in small quantities suiiicient for more than one but less than two lcigar bunches, through an open feed chute directly into the measuring chamber, thereby avoiding unnecessary pressure on the tobacco. The iced chute is se constructed that, in proper time with the tobacco feed, the bottom part will swing upward and form a trough above the measuring chamber, thereby throwing any tobacco which still may lie cn this part of the chute into the sizing chamber. .A plunger descending through the formed trough resiliently presses upon this short column of tobacco and creates an even density throughout the tobacco column. Ir" sufcient tobacco is in the chamber, further feeding is arrested, ii' otherwise, another charge is fed into the trough.

i ie proper time swingable knives will separate the tobacco in the measuring chamber from that left the trough, whereupon the plunger will move upward The trough will then move out or the way allowing the now descending plunger to pass and act as a cover for the tobaccoin the measuring chamber after the separating knives are removed. The plunger and measuring chamber will then move downward into the apron pocket, Where the undisturbed charge, which is of even density, is deposited into the pocket. A bunch made from a charge which is obtained 1n the just described manner, will produce a uniform scrap cigar, as to diameter and length with a spongy bunch containing the same quality of t0- bacco as the original charge.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which like char acters of reference indicate the same or like parts,

Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of a scrap bunch machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation of the sizing mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the same;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the trough and sizing chamber; and

Fig. 5 shows the manner cf measuring the charge.

In carrying the invention into effect there is provided a tobacco measuring device, means operating to intermittently deliver a quantity of tobacco to said measuring device, mechanism for compressing the tobacco in said measuring de vice during the interval between delivery of successive quantities of tobacco by said means, mechanism for severing a bunch charge from the compressed tobacco in said measuring device during said interval, and a device controlled by said compressing mechanism for causing said means to operate continuously when there is not suihcient tobacco in said measuring device for at least one bunch charge. In the best constructions conteinplated said measuring device includes a measuring chamber', a movable trough adapted to guide tobacco into said chamber, and means for moving said trough into and out of a positionabove said chamber, the compressing mechanism being operative to eject the charge from said chamber when the trough is moved away from its position above the chamber. In the preferred torni of construction said means includes a bucket conveyor and an intermittent drive for the conveyor.. These various means and parts may be widely'varied in construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular machine selected to illustrate the invention is but one oi many possible concrete embodiments of the saine. The invention, therefore, is not toV be restricted to the specific construction shown and described.

Referring now to the drawings, the scrap tobacco T is deposited in a hopper or magazine Aloosely mounted on shaft 22.

10 which is fastened to the main frame 11 of the machine. A plurality of detachable buckets 12, fastened to conveyor chains 13 travel intermittently within the magazine 1() and convey 'the tobacco into the feed chute 14 supported by the upper frame 15 (Fig. 2). The sise of the buckets 12 is so selected as to correspond with the size of bunch desired, each bucket having the capacity of a little more tobacco than required for one bunch but less than required .for two bunches. Conveyor chains 13 are intermittently driven from sprockets 16 and run over a pair of idler sprockets (not shown). Sprockets 16 are mounted on a shaft 17 supported by the maga- Zine frame 18. Shaft 17 carries another sprocket 19 actuated through a chain 20 from a sprocket 21 (Figs. 2 and 3) mounted on a shaft 22 sup-- ported in bearings of upper frame 15. On shaft 22 is mounted an arm 23 carrying a pivot 24 to which is attached a pawl 25 engaging a ratchet wheel 26 fixed to a worm wheel 27 both of which are loosely mounted on shaft 22. Worm wheel 27 is driven from a worm 28 mounted on shaft 29 actuated by a pulley 30 (Fig. 1) which is driven by means of a belt 31 from a pulley 32 mounted on the main drive shaft 33 of the bunch inachine. To pawl 25 is attached a tension spring 34 fastened to a spring stud 35 on arm 23. On pivot 24 there is also mounted a slotted arm 36 engaging with a pawl operating pin 37 fastened to a stop ratchet wheel 38 carrying a spring stud 39 to which is connected one end of a tension spring 40, the other end of which is fastened to spring stud 35 on arm 23. Ratchet wheel 38 is To the latter is attached a stop cam 41 against which rides a stop lever 42 mounted on a shaft 43 held by a bracket 44 attached to upper frame 15. Stop lever 42 is held in engagement with cam 41 by means of tension spring 45. During each cycle of cam 41 the stop lever 42 drops in a cutout 0r reentrant portion 46 of cam 41. On shaft 43, carrying the stop lever 42, is also mounted a stop pawl 47 which, when lever 42 drops in the cutout 46, will fall in engagement with stop ratchet 38 and cause the same to stop. As arm 23 still is in motion, pawl operating pin 37 mounted on ratchet 38 will actuate slotted finger 36 carried by arm 23 and cause pawl 25 to disengage from ratchet 26, thereby stopping the entire tobacco feed.

In properly timed relation, a pin 48, mounted on a bell-crank lever 49 pivoted on shaft 22, will knock pawl 47 out of engagement with ratchet wheel 38 which operation also will. lift stop lever 42 out of the cutout 46 of cam 41, whereby tension spring 40, which is stronger than spring 34, causes the engagement of pawl 25 with the con tinuously driven ratchet wheel 26 and the feed-- ing of tobacco commences again. Bellcrank lever 49 through a link 50 is operated from lever 51` (Fig. 1) mounted on a shaft 52, which is actuated by means of a cam lever 53 provided with a roller 54 engaging cam disk 55 mounted on the main drive shaft 33.

As the tobacco T is fed into the feed chute 14 it will fall by gravity to the bottom of the same and into the adjustable measuring chamber 56 (Fig. 2). The bottom part of feed chute 14 consists of a bridge plate 57, mounted on a sliding frame 58, and a swingable shutter plate 59 mounted on a hinge plate 60 fastened to a shaft 61 also supported by sliding frame 58. The latter is provided with upstanding sidewalls which extend beyond its forward end and are joined by a front` wall beyond the forward end of the frame. After a charge of tobacco is fed into feed chute 14 and has reached the bottom of the same, shutter plate 59 will swing upward between the sidewalls and form a trough in the space between it and the front wall on sliding frame 58, thereby throwing any tobacco, which may still lie on the shutter plate 59, into the trough.

The shutter plate is operated by shaft 61 which through a lever 62 and a link 63 is connected to a lever 64 pivoted on stud 65 in bracket 66 (Fig. 1). Lever 64 is equipped with a cani lever 67 which by means of roller 68 is actuated from a cam 69 mounted on shaft 22.

After the trough is formed, a plunger 70 (Fig. 2) descends and compresses the short column of tobacco into the measuring chamber 56, creating an even density of the charge in the measuring chamber, whereupon a pair of swingable knives 71 and 72 will separate the tobacco in the measuring chamber from that left in the trough.

plunger 70 is fastened to a guide bar 73 which through links 74 is actuated by an operating lever 75 equipped with a cam roller 73 engaging with cam 77 mounted on shaft 22. Guide bar 73 carries a pair of guide rods 78 slidably supported by a guide bracket 79 fastened to an operating shaft 80. Operating lever 75 is pivoted on studs 81 mounted in arms 82 of bracket 79 and is equipped with a tension spring 83 attached to `Van arm 84 of bracket 79, which presses the lever 75 with its cam ro-ller 76 against the cam 77,. Guide bar 73 is equipped with a lock hook 85 which has the object of engaging with control lever 86 mounted on shaft 43, and prevents stop lever 42 from falling into the cutout 46 of cam 41. This arrangement is made to continue the feeding of tobacco in case there is insuficient tobacco in the trough and measuring chamber. 1f sufficient tobacco for at least one bunch charge is in'the trough and chamber, the plunger 7() will be unable to reach its lowermost position and the lock hook 85 cannot engage with control lever 86, thereby allowing stop leve;1 42 to drop at Y the proper time into cutout 46 of cam 41 and stop the tobaccov feed; equipped with a stop lug 87 engaging with a stop pin 88 on arm 82. This arrangement is made to prevent plunger 70 from dropping down to an undesirable position.

The separating knives 71 and 72 are mounted The operating lever 75 is on a pair of levers 89 and 90 both pivoted at one end to a stud 91 mounted in a bracket 92 fastened to the main frame 11 of the machine. The other ends of levers 89 and 90 are connected by means of links 93 and 94, respectively, to an oscillating disc 95 mounted on shaft 96 actuated by a bevel gear 97 engaging with a bevel gear segment 98 A loosely mounted on a shaft 99 supported. by bearing brackets of bridge frame 100. Gear segment 98 is equipped with a lever 101 (Fig. 1) Y which through a link 102 is operated by al, cam

lever 103 engaging with a roller 104 in a cam vlever 114 which has a roller 115 engaging in a cam track 116 of double cam 106 driven from the main drive shaft 33.

After the separating knives 71 and 72 are moved out of the way the plunger and measuring chamber 56 move downward together into a pocket which is formed in the bunch rolling apron 117 and the charge is deposited in the same.

The depositing of the tobacco takes place when the swingable bottom plate 118 of the sizing chamber 56 is opened by means of a roller 119 carried on lever 120 attached to a stud 121 fastened to bottom plate 118. When the measuring chamber 56 comes to its lowermost position, roller 119 engages with cam lug 122 thereby opening the bottom plate 118 of chamber 56 and allowing the charge to drop into the pocket of apron 117. (This position is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5.)

The measuring chamber 56 then rises again while plunger 70 remains in its position just long enough to act as a stripper and assuring that no tobacco is left in the sizing chamber 56. The plunger 70 then rises together with chamber 56 to their uppermost position. As soon as roller 119 leaves cam lug 122, bottom plate 118 is closed automatically by a torsion spring 123 (Fig. 4) fastened to stud 124 attached to bottom plate 118. The latter is supported by means of studs 121 and 124 loosely mounted in bearing plates 125 attached to the side walls of the chamber 56. Adjusting plates 126, which form the ends of the measuring chamber, can be set to take care of charges for bunches of diierent lengths. To assure a solid bottom when the chamber 56 is in its uppermost position and while sizing the tobacco, the roller 119 engages in this position with an adjustable cam plate 122s which will lock the bottom plate 118.

The downward movement of the plunger 70 while acting as a cover and ejector for chamber 55 is controlled by operating shaft 80 to which the plunger mechanism is attached. To shaft which is slidably supported in bearing bracket 127, is fastened a bracket 128 which through a link 129 is operated by a lever 130 fulcrumed on shaft 131 mounted in bearings of the main frame 11. Lever 130 is equipped with a cam lever 132 provided with a cam roller 133 engaging in a cam track 134 of double cam 135 mounted on drive shaft 33. To bracket 128 is attached a guide lug 13S engaging with a guide rod 187 mounted on bearing bracket 127.

The measuring chamber is operated by means of a guide bracket 138 which through a link 139 is actuated by a lever 140 fulcrumed on shaft 131. Lever 140 is equipped with a cam lever 141 which has a roller 142 engaging in a cam track 143 oi double cam 135. Guide bracket 138 is slidably supported by a guide shaft 144 and is equipped with a guide lug 145 engaging with a guide rod 14.6 mounted in bearing bracket 127.

After the charge is deposited in the pocket formed by rolling apron 117 a rolling pin 147 mounted on an operating arm 148 (Fig. 1) will roll the charge within a binder which is placed `on the apron 117 over a lrolling table 149 after which the iinished bunch will drop into the holding clamps 150 from which the bunch is transferred to a cigar wrapper applying device.

What is claimed is:

l. The combination with a tobacco measuring device, of means normally operating to i termittently deliver a quantity of tobacco sunicient for more than one bunch charge to said measuring device, mechanism for compressing the tobacco in said measuring device during the interval be tween delivery of successive quantities of tobacco by said means, mechanism for severing a bunch. charge from the compressed tobacco inl said measuring device during said interval, and a device controlled by said compressing mechanism for temporarily causing said means to operate continuously when there is insuicient tobacco in said measuring device for at least one bunch charge, said compressing mechanism being operative to eject the severed charge from said measuring device.

2. The combination with a tobacco measuring device, of means normally operating to intermit-- tently deliver a quantity of tobacco suiiicient for more than one bunch charge to said measuring device, mechanism for compressing the tobacco in said measuring device during the ,interval tween delivery of successive quantities of tobacco by said means, mechanism for severing a bunch charge from the compressed tobacco in said measuring device during said interval, and a devicecontrolled by said compressing mechanism for temporarily causing said means to operate continuously when there is insuflicient tobacco in said measuring device for at least one bunch charge, said measuring device including a measuring chamber having a capacity of one bunch charge, a movable trough adapted to guide tcbacco into said chamber, and means for moving said trough into and out of a position above said chamber, and said compressing mechanism be" ing operative to eject the charge from said chamber when said trough is moved away from its po sition above said chamber.

3. The combination with a tobacco measuring device, of means normally operating to intermittently deliver a quantity of tobacco suicient for more than one bunch charge to said uring device, mechanism for compressing the tobacco in said measuring device during the intervalvbetween delivery of successive quantities of tobacco by said means, mechanism for severing a bunch charge from the compressed tobacco in said measuring device during said interval, and a device controlled by said compressingl mechanism for temporarily causing said means to operate continuously when there is insuicient tobacco in said measuring device for at least one bunch charge, said measuring device including a meas uring chamber, a slidable frame disposed above said chamber, and a trough on said frame adapted to guide tobacco into said chamber. said trough being formed by side walls on said frame extending beyond its forward end, a iront wall joining said side walls beyond said forward end, and a shutter plate pivotally connected to said frame and swingable upwardly between said side walls.

e1.. The combination with a tobacco measuring device, of means normally operating to .intermittently deliver a quantity of tobacco suiiicient for more than one bunch charge to said measuring device, mechanism for compressing the tobacco in said measuring device during the interval between delivery of successive quantities of tobacv co by said means, mechanism for severing a bunch charge from the compressed tobacco in said measuring device during said interval, and va device controlled by said compressing mechanism for temporarily causing said means to operate continuously when there is insuiiicient to bacco in said measuring device for at least one bunch charge, said means including driven sprockets, a bucket conveyor running oversaid sprockets, means for intermittently rotating said sprockets, and a feed chute arranged to receive the tobacco discharged by the lbucket conveyor and guide it into said measuring device.

5. The combination with a tobacco measuring device, of means normally operating to intermittently deliver a quantity of tobacco suiiicient for more than one bunch charge to said measuring device, mechanism for compressing the tobacco in said measuring device during the interval between delivery of successive quantities of tobacco by said means, mechanism for severing a bunch charge from the compressed tobaccp in said measuring device during said interval, and a de vice controlled by said compressing mechanism for temporarily causing said means to operate continuously when thereis insufcient tobacco in said measuring. device for at least one bunch charge, said means including driven sprockets, a bucket conveyor running over said sprockets, and an intermittent drive for said sprockets, said drive including a shaft connected to said sprockets, an arm iiXed on said shaft, a driven ratchet loosely mounted on said shaft, a spring-tensioned pawl pivoted on said arm and engaging said driven ratchet to rotate said arm together with said shaft, a stop ratchet loosely mounted on said shaft, a stop pawl, a stop cam xed on said shaft and having the form of a disk provided with a cutout portion in its periphery, a stop lever having one end engaging the periphery of said stop cam and connected to said stop pawl to bring the latter into engagement with said stop ratchet when said end of the stop lever enters the cut- '.ou-t in the cam, a slotted iinger xed on the pivot of said spring-tensioned pawl, a stop-pin on said stop ratchet engaging lin the slot of said nger to swing the spring-tensioned pawl out of engage-r ment with its ratchet when the stop ratchet is engaged by its stop lpawl, and a cam operated pin adapted to knock the stop pawl out of engagement with the stop ratchet in timed relation.

6. The combination with a tobacco measuring device, of means normally operating to intermittently deliver a quantity of tobacco suiiicient for more than one bunch charge to said measuring device, mechanism for compressing the. tobacco in said measuring device during the interval between delivery of successive quantities of tobacco by said means, mechanism'for severing a bunch charge from the compressed tobacco in said measuring device during said interval, and a device controlled by said compressing mechanism for temporarily causing'said means to operate continuously when there is insuicient tobacco in said measuring device for at least one bunch charge, said compressing mechanism including a reciprocable operating shaft, means for reciprocating said shaft, a guide bracket fastened to lsaid shaft, a guide bar slidably mounted on said bracket, a tobacco compressing plunger fastened tosaid yguide bar, and cam mechanism connected to said guide bar and operated by said means for reciprocating said plunger and guide bar relative to said shaft and bracket to cause the plunger to compress the tobacco in said measuring device.

7. The combination with a tobacco measuring device, of means normally operating to intermittently deliver a quantity of tobacco sufficient for more than one bunch charge to said measuring device, mechanism for compressing the tobacco in said measuring device during the interval ben tween delivery of successive quantities of tobacco by said means, mechanism for severing a bunch charge from the compressedobacco in said measuring device during said interval, and a device controlled by said compressing mechanism for temporarily causing said means to operate continuously when there is insufficient tobacco in said measuring device for at least one bunch charge, said measuring device including a measuring chamber and a trough adapted to guide tobacco into said chamber, and said severing mechanism including a pair of cam operated knives cooperating to `sever the tobacco between said chamber and trough.

8. The combination with a tobacco measuring device, of means normally operating to intermittently deliver a quantity of tobaccol suflicient for more than one bunch charge to said measuring device, mechanism for compressing the tobacco in said measuring device during the interval be tween delivery of successive quantities of tobacco by said means, mechanism for severing a bunch charge from the compressed tobacco in said meas uring device during said interval, and a device controlled by said compressing mechanism for temporarily causing said means to operate continuously when there is insuiiicient tobacco in said measuring device for at least one bunch charge, said means including a driven shaft, a stop cam xed on said shaft and having a cutout portion, and a stop lever having one end engaging said cam and adapted to enter its cutout portion, said mechanism including a reciprocable tobacco compressing plunger and a lock hook connected to said plunger, and said device including a con` trol lever connected to said stop lever and arranged in the path of said hook to be engaged by'V thelatter to lock the stop lever out of engagenient with said cam, thereby preventing engagement of the end of the stop lever with the cutout portion of the cam. v

9. The combination with a tobacco measuring device, of means normally operating to intermittently deliver a quantity of tobacco sufficient for more than one bunch charge to said measuring device, mechanism for compressing the tobacco in said measuring device during the interval between delivery of successive quantities of tobacco by said means, mechanism for severing a bunch charge from the compressed tobacco in said meas-v uring device during said interval, and a device controlled by said compressing mechanism for temporarily causing said means to operate continuously when there is insuicienttobacco in said measuring device for at least one `bunch charge, and a bunch rolling device includingA a rolling apron, said measuring device including a measuring chamber and means for reciprocating said chamber to lower it adjacent said apron, and said mechanism being operative to eject the charge from said chamber onto saidapron.

l0. The combination with a measuring device, of means operating to intermittently deliver a quantity of tobacco to said device, mechanism for compressing the tobacco in -said device to form a charge, and mechanism for severing a charge from the compressed tobacco in said device, said device includingr a measuring chamber having a capacity of one bunch charge, a trough adapted to guide tobacco into said chamber, and means for moving said trough into and out of a position above said chamber, said compressing mechanism being operative to eject the charge from said chamber when said trough is moved away from its position above said chamber.

11. The combination with a measuring chamber having a pivotally mounted bottom plate adapted to support a charge of tobacco in said chamber, means for reciprocating said chamber vertically, means for swinging open said bottom plate at the end of the downward stroke of said chamber, a plunger, and mechanism for actuating said plunger to cause it to cover the tobacco in said chamber While the latter is being lowered and eject the tobacco therefrom when the chamber is raised.

12. Tobacco compressing means, comprising a reciprocable operating shaft, means for reciprocating said shaft, a guide bracket fastened to said shaft, a guide bar slidably mounted on said bracket, a tobacco compressing plunger fastened to said guide bar, and cam mechanism connected to said guide par for reciprocating said plunger and guide bar relative to said shaft and bracket to cause the plunger to compress tobacco.

WALTER I-I. SCI-IUSSLER. 

